A new political confrontation has erupted following the registration of a fresh First Information Report (FIR) by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money-laundering case. The EOW registered this FIR on October 3, acting on a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accusing the Gandhis and six others of criminal conspiracy to fraudulently take over Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the parent company of the National Herald.
The registration of the FIR has resulted in sharp, contrasting reactions from the ruling coalition and the Opposition. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal strongly defended the action, asserting that the FIR is grounded in “credible evidence” gathered by investigative agencies. He alleged that the action is a continuation of PM Modi’s stance that those who looted the country must return what they took. Similarly, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC dismissed the claim of political motivation, insisting the case is rooted in “financial wrongdoing” involving AJL assets worth almost Rs 2,000 crore.
Conversely, the Congress party described the FIR as the latest attempt by the BJP to target opposition leaders and resort to an “authoritarian approach.” Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant termed the action a “conspiracy” aimed at harassing and intimidating the opposition. According to the FIR, the alleged conspiracy involved acquiring AJL, which owns properties valued at over Rs 2,000 crore, for a mere Rs 50 lakh through Young Indian, a company said to be beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
